Yamafu Military Affairs

Chapter 429 True and False Dragon
February 8th, Nanjing Jinlou.

Downstairs, there were beautiful girls chatting and laughing, while upstairs, everyone was solemn and the atmosphere was heavy.

A square incense table stood against the wall, about three meters wide, connected to the ceiling with cloud patterns carved on it. It was divided into four layers, and placed with spirit tablets one after another. There were offerings in front of the tablets, and the names on the tablets were all those of the dozens of Chinese heroes who died on the night of the attack on Wuchang.

Zhongshan Qiao looked a little haggard. Although he was not seriously injured, he had just experienced a major change not long ago, so it was inevitable that he was in a low mood.

Under Feng Zhao's arrangement, most of the remaining Honolulu people in Wuchang had dispersed among the people and moved to various provinces in the south. He, together with Huang Keqiang, Song Dunchu and others, went through many twists and turns and arrived in Nanjing, where they temporarily took refuge in the Jinlou and silently waited for an opportunity.

Feng Zhao's face was still a little pale, his forearms were wrapped in thick bandages, his knuckles were lightly clenched, and he bowed three times to the tablets while holding a handful of incense sticks.

When the ceremony was over, Zhongshan Woodcutter on the side took over the incense sticks and carefully inserted the burning incense sticks in front of each tablet.

"In this battle, we lost eighty-four brothers, six Grandmasters, and countless Boxers who sacrificed their lives fighting the Qing dogs. The White Lotus Society will take good care of the families of these heroes and take good care of them."

Feng Zhao held a heavy list in his hand and gave instructions to the only remaining White Lotus Dharma King.

"Brothers are risking their lives, so we certainly can't let them down. Keqiang, when the Yihe War is successful, their death compensation must be delivered in time."

"It's natural."

Huang Keqiang nodded, took the list, and felt very heavy.

Since he had witnessed Chuntai's devastating methods with his own eyes, he was shocked and couldn't believe it. However, when he thought about the last years of the dynasty, when strange things happened frequently, he felt relieved.

"According to the time, Sister Lian and the others should be back soon. I just hope they don't run into that old monster. Otherwise."

Feng Zhao thought of the hurried dragon shadow that flew from east to west that night, and felt a little uneasy.

Herod~
At this moment, the sound of donkeys and horses neighing was heard outside the Golden Building. Du Xinwu, whose arms were fixed in splints, looked out of the window and saw more than ten donkeys, horses and three ox carts loaded with supplies coming from the end of the long street.

At the front was a horse-drawn carriage. The driver had a neat and capable short haircut, dark eyebrows and thin lips. He looked like a crouching tiger and was carefully looking through an album.

"Jingbo?"

Du Xinwu's eyes moved, and he saw Mr. Chen, the accountant of Nanjing Jinlou, coming to greet him.

"Master, you are finally here. Did you have a smooth journey?"

Mr. Chen had received a pigeon message from Wuchang Jinlou last night, and learned that the big boss Qinhuai would be visiting soon. He immediately led the accountant, gossipy women, and teapots to clean the Jinlou from top to bottom.

"It went smoothly. In this chaotic world, I only encountered two groups of blind soldiers and hooligans. I don't know whether to say it is lucky or unlucky."

Qin Huai put away the pornographic book, nodded to Mr. Chen, and asked, "Have Mr. Zhong and Wan Ming arrived?"

"I arrived the day before yesterday and am waiting for you inside the building."

"Well, the things in the back car are all gold and silver. You take the guys to the backyard and take good care of them. As for how to use them in the future, just listen to Master Feng's instructions."

After Qin Huai casually said a few words, he went upstairs with Lin Heier and old lady Bai Lian.

"Jingbo, Sister Lian, Master Hua, you..."

Feng Zhao was a little surprised to see Lin Heier coming back with Qin Huai, but he soon discovered that there were two fewer people from the Bailian group who went to Qinling to get the treasure.

"Master, when I traveled from the capital to Wuchang, I was always in sight of those vicious dogs. If it weren't for the help of Mr. Qin and Master Shi, the great medicines left in the sect would have fallen into the hands of that old monster."

Lin Heier's eyes darkened, and she told everyone everything that happened during the trip to Qinling Mountains.

After hearing this, Feng Zhao was shocked by Chuntai's strange and unpredictable methods, but what he didn't expect was that Qin Huai could save many of his own people even when facing Chuntai head-on.

This is something that even hundreds of Chinese heroes working together would find difficult to accomplish.

It seems that this owner of the Jinlou, the next generation leader of the Baji Sect, has a lot of secrets.
Feng Zhao thought so in his heart, and he did not lose his courtesy on his face. He immediately said, "Since Jingbo has chosen my two essays from the various treasures in Sanjiao Cave, it proves that we are destined to be together. If you have any questions during your comprehension in the future, feel free to come to me."

Qin Huai withdrew his gaze from the spirit tablets and nodded: "Don't worry, Wanming, if you need anything, I will definitely not be polite to you."

"Mr. Zhong and Mr. Huang, you are willing to come to Nanjing with Wanming. I believe you have made up your mind, right?"

"Jingbo's guess is correct. I would like to ask you to act as a matchmaker with Xizi so that I can meet Yuan Xiangcheng in person."

Zhong Shanqiao sighed and pointed north. "A few days ago, the Qing court attacked Wuchang at night, but we did not see the main force of the Beiyang army that night. In addition to the information we collected before, we can know that Yuan Xiangcheng should not know that the regent went south. The relationship between the Manchu royal family and the Han officials is probably more hostile than we thought."

"Zhongshan!"

"Keqiang, on the night of the attack on Wuchang, I spoke to Yuan Xiangcheng on the phone and knew what he wanted. I am 70% sure that I can convince him to join forces to fight against the Qing."

Zhongshan Qiao looked at Huang Keqiang, waved his hand, and continued: "Now that Jingbo has returned, we have more bargaining chips. As long as Yuan Xiangcheng does not want to end up like Zhang Xiangshuai, he will overthrow the monarchy even if it is only for himself."

"To eliminate the thieves for the country, it is acceptable to use spies or bait. Since you have made up your mind, I will go to the Liangjiang Governor's Office on your behalf."

Glancing at the faces that were familiar, unfamiliar, or just plain strange, Qin Huai nodded and immediately got up and went downstairs.
-
The office of the Governor-General of Liangjiang.

The "Spring River Moon Night" that had been lingering in the beams for a long time suddenly had a noise. Yuan Xiangcheng, who was dozing on the recliner, opened his eyes and saw Xu Juren coming into the hall with a stack of telegrams.

"Kikuto, didn't I tell you that if there are any trivial official matters, you can just handle them for me. There is really no need to ask me about everything."

"Gong Bao, this is not official business, this is a strange news, the situation in the north has changed."

"The weather has changed?"

Yuan Xiangcheng looked puzzled. He sat up and took the telegram, reading it while listening to Xu Juren's story.

"Yes, a live dragon appeared in the Qinling Mountains. From Shaanxi, Shanxi to the capital of Zhili, no less than a million people saw in broad daylight a naked old man riding a five-clawed dragon several dozen feet long, with sparkling eyes and horns, pink scales and crystal mane, flying from high in the sky until it disappeared into the Forbidden City. The foreign embassies and foreign journalists in Dongjiaominxiang have gone crazy. The relevant photos they took have been published in the newspapers, and it will probably be announced to the whole country soon." "Dragon? A live one? How is this possible? In this day and age, what blind real dragon would run to the Forbidden City at this time?"

Yuan Xiangcheng flipped through the telegram in his hand and was obviously unconvinced at first, until a few black and white photos appeared, which made him frown instantly.

"How strange! How strange! If this dragon really exists, does it mean that the Qing Dynasty has not yet come to an end?"

Looking at the photo of the five-clawed real dragon that was clearly visible, the usually calm Yuan Xiangcheng couldn't help but doubt his own cognition.

"Juren, you are so talented, what are your views?"

"Gong Bao, to be honest, it's unbelievable. But I think there must be something fishy going on. If the Qing Dynasty could really attract the attention of a true dragon, it wouldn't be now. At least the Kangxi and Qianlong dynasties more than a hundred years ago were countless times stronger than the Guangxu and Xuantong dynasties."

Xu Juren pointed at the photo in Yuan Xiangcheng's hand and said in a deep voice: "The ancients said that seeing is believing and hearing is false, but I think that sometimes seeing is not necessarily true. Gong Bao, don't forget that Zhiquan once said that the Regent had displayed a dragon claw-like Yuan Qi method when he attacked Wuchang at night. So, rather than saying that the Qing Dynasty has a real dragon's favor and his fate has been extended, it is better to say that the Regent got some good fortune in Qinling Mountains, and his inner Yuan Qi can condense into an illusion that is no different from a real dragon."

Yuan Xiangcheng looked up at Xu Juren, knowing that Xu Juren had a close relationship with Sun Lutang and was very familiar with martial artists' Qi-power methods, so he believed it 80% at once.

"In the last years of the dynasty, evildoers appeared frequently~"

Yuan Xiangcheng sighed and continued, "But among the 400 million people in China, there are only a few who are as knowledgeable and sensible as you, Ju Ren. Now that the real dragon has appeared, whether it is true or not, I am afraid that the people will once again be devoted to the Qing Dynasty!"

"Kikuto, what do you think we should do?"

"Gong Bao wants to ask, what should I do as a minister of the Qing Dynasty, or what should I do as an ally of the Republic?"

"As the saying goes, knowing yourself and your enemy means you can fight a hundred battles without danger."

Yuan Xiangcheng smiled slightly and motioned him to sit down and talk.

"If we were to talk about this in our current position, we would naturally have to create as much momentum as possible and make a big fuss about the dragon rising from the Qinling Mountains and entering the Forbidden City. As the military manual says, attacking the heart is better than attacking the enemy. If we can use the hands of envoys from various countries and the voices of millions of people to break the republican spirit of the southern provinces, it would be much easier for the Beiyang Army to recover its former territory in the future."

Xu Juren knew Yuan Xiangcheng's temper, so he didn't beat around the bush and immediately told him the solution: "As for what the people of Honolulu will do, it's not hard to guess. The people of Honolulu all advocate science and oppose feudal superstition. Whether the dragon appears or not, it doesn't affect their republic. As long as they can stabilize the people's hearts in the southern provinces, who will win in the end between Honolulu and the Qing court, and who will own the world, is still a confusing problem."

"Kikuto, you said so much, and it makes sense, but you didn't tell me what Zhongshan Qiao should do to deal with the public opinion stirred up by the Regent."

After hearing Xu Juren's opinion, Yuan Xiangcheng agreed with it, but he still couldn't figure out how Zhongshan Qiao would solve the problem after learning the news.

"It's very simple. Either they find evidence that the dragon under the Regent is fake, or they create a dragon to compete with them."

Xu Juren shrugged his shoulders and continued, "But both of these paths are quite difficult."

"Gossip can melt gold, and constant criticism can destroy a person. I think this is the only way for Zhongshan Qiao to go."

Yuan Xiangcheng slapped his thigh, and couldn't help but think of returning to Beijing immediately to find out the authenticity of the dragon.

If it was false, he had the evidence in his hand, so he had room for maneuver whether he advanced or retreated.

If it is true, then with his contribution to the Qing court, it is hard to guarantee that he will not be favored by the real dragon. If he can snatch food from the tiger's mouth and obtain the destiny, then this world...
"Gong Bao, what you said is wrong. Who said that we only have that one way to go?"

Some familiar voices sounded in his ears. Yuan Xiangcheng turned his head and looked outside the door. He saw Qin Huai entering the meeting hall under the leadership of Yang Xizi and Li Shuwen.

"Oh? Jingbo has also come to Nanjing. I wonder what you just said, what does it mean?"

Qin Huai adjusted his collar first, then smiled at the two people sitting in the hall and said, "Don't worry, Gong Bao. I'll show you a magic trick and you'll understand."

"Okay, come on."

Yuan Xiangcheng, with gray hair on his temples, glanced at Li Shuwen and became interested, and immediately nodded in agreement.

After Qin Huai heard this, he pursed his lips and fixed his eyes. Without any movement, he shook his shoulders and a dark face as dark as Bao Qingtian appeared on his fair face. At first glance, it was like an iron-faced Yama standing in a mirror, which made people feel creepy.

That's it?

One has to admit that Qin Huai's face-changing technique is indeed a unique skill. He can put on a mask without any oil paint. But after Yuan Xiangcheng came to his senses, he still didn't understand what Qin Huai was planning to do by changing himself into Bao Zheng.

Just when everyone was puzzled, Qin Huai suddenly raised his head, his black face bulged and deformed, and many dark golden scales grew on it. Two bulges protruded from the corners of his forehead. As the scales fell off, his eyes were filled with golden particles, and a golden vertical crack appeared. After a while, his head turned into a dragon head!
[Baifa Mimicry: Boshalong]!
Yuan Xiangcheng, who always prided himself on being a hero in troubled times and a capable minister in peaceful times, saw the dragon head looking down at him from close at hand, and immediately indulged in endless powerlessness and fear, as if he was standing naked in front of a hungry tiger.

No, it's scarier than that!
He opened his mouth, his throat seemed to be blocked by his tongue, and he couldn't utter a word.

"Gong Bao, do you think my trick of changing the world into something real is real?"

Yuan Xiangcheng watched helplessly as two thick, smoke-like white air columns spurted out of the nostrils of the dark golden dragon head and blew onto his body. He felt as if a strong wind was passing through him, and the sweat from the irritated skin immediately soaked his expensive black satin gown.

"Zhenzhen, Jingbo, can I touch it?"

Yuan Xiangcheng forced himself to calm down, looked directly at Qin Huai with a burning gaze, and spoke boldly.

"Hehe, Gong Bao, you are joking. This is just a trick. It won't work if you touch it."

Qin Huai opened his sharp teeth and moved his ferocious dragon mouth close to Yuan Xiangcheng. The evil aura it exuded seemed to be able to shake people's hearts.

Yuan Xiangcheng carefully examined the dark golden dragon head, which was clearly visible in every detail, and suddenly raised his hand to touch the dragon's mouth.

Call ~
The raised hand fell into nothing, the dark golden dragon head disappeared, and only bits of Yuan Qi were left slowly falling.

"Hey, it seems that Gong Bao still doesn't trust me. Could it be that you really believe that there are dragons in the world?"

The moment Yuan Xiangcheng raised his hand, Qin Huai, who had used [Instant] to cancel [Hundred Flavors Mimicry], looked at him with a smile, then turned around and asked a very crucial question.

(End of this chapter)